Joan M. Carter

May 25, 2013

Joan Marie Carter, nee Ramsay, of Harpers Ferry, passed away at home May 22 with family by her side.

The only child of Robert Lamar and Gertrude Marie Ramsay, Joan was born in 1930 and raised in Bloomfield, N.J.

Although she wanted to take part in the European reconstruction after World War II, her parents sent her to college in North Carolina instead. There she studied commercial art, and eventually took her skills to New York City to work in the ad agencies.

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Joan M. Carter.

Joan transferred to Cincinnati, where she met and married Terence Carter. While there they had two children, and two more after moving to the District of Columbia. Joan enjoyed her role as mother and thought the nation's capital was a terrific place to raise a family. Though she suffered tragedies, she carried herself with grace, humor and compassion. She was a people person who enjoyed all kinds of company. Joan loved nature, despised cruelty and was an outspoken critic of the gun culture. She was a life-long advocate for her developmentally disabled daughter. Gardening was a passion, and she spent many happy hours tending her yard. In her 50s, she traveled to Scotland. In her 60s, she got her wish to ride a Harley, and in her 70s, she cruised around Cape Horn of the South American continent. For a decade she lived in Frederick, Md., then two years ago moved to Harpers Ferry, to spend the rest of her days. It was a place of fond memories. She cherished her neighbors, and felt like she had "come home."

While in Harpers Ferry, Joan volunteered at the Cause for Paws animal shelter and at the local library in Bolivar and was a member of the Harpers Ferry Women's Club.